In Hong Kong, it is estimated that about 1.5 million people are living with a mental health problem or a mental illness that could benefit from early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment and support. About half of these people receive no treatment or care, a situation that in many cases can lead to fatalities.

The World Federation for Mental Health has designated the theme for today's World Mental Health Day 'Making mental health a global priority: scaling up services through citizen advocacy and action.' The federation urges increased effort and action for improving mental health services and ready access to services by those experiencing serious mental health problems and disorders.

This year's theme addresses the continuing need to 'make mental health issues a global priority' and to stress the all too-often neglected fact that mental health is a universal concern. The federation and all its local member associations around the world, intend to create a global 'call to action' for citizen education and advocacy that will promote the development and funding of adequate and appropriate mental health services in all countries around the world.

The Hong Kong College of Mental Health Nursing is eager to join hands with mental health organisations and volunteer groups to support World Mental Health Day. We urge all individuals, the government, legislators and NGOs to work in a concerted way to increase public awareness about mental illness and acceptance of mentally ill people.

Much greater resources should be allocated to promote mental health and improve services which provide diagnosis, treatment and support for those people who need help. Only with good mental health can the community be healthy.

Dr Sally Chan, president, Hong Kong College of Mental Health Nursing

City of far too much light

At night in Hong Kong, it is difficult to see the stars in the sky because of the street lamps, and bright shop and neon lights.

It is no wonder that the city at night is a sight that attracts tourists from around the world. But while it might be a magnet for visitors, do we ever think about the serious environmental problems we cause by light pollution?

I know residents in some neighbourhoods complain that strong exterior lighting at night is so bad that it affects their health, because they have difficulty sleeping. It also affect birds, because they become disorientated.

Light pollution is a problem that the government has to deal with. It is not as if this is something new.

Regulations should be put in place to try and reduce light pollution and give residents and animals some protection. It could limit the number of shops that can have lights on at night and inspect premises to ensure the rules are adhered to. It could also impose a limit on the intensity of lights, so they are not so strong. The government should also try and educate people so they become more aware of the problems that can be caused by light pollution.

Harina Fong, Wong Tai Sin

Night escalators waste electricity

As a keen recycler and supporter of 'green' issues, I was rather shocked at the waste of electricity witnessed last weekend on an evening out in Wan Chai.

We found ourselves in a quiet part of Wan Chai and were dismayed to see all the escalators working on a number of levels of a building, with not a soul using them.

Why are these escalators not suitably adapted? I have seen escalators that stop when not in use and restart when people step on them. In areas where few people go after certain hours, wouldn't it be prudent to upgrade these escalators and avoid the immense waste of energy?

It is an easy way of lowering the carbon footprint for Hong Kong. And now what about all those skyscrapers with their lights shining all night?

Ursula Tuck, Mid-Levels

URA serves developers Staunton Street is historically unique.

This narrow street with its low walk-up tenements with balconies is an important part of Hong Kong's past and therefore we should be concerned about its future.

It is close to the important historical sites of Victoria Prison and Central Police Station, and the site of the school that Sun Yat-sen attended.

These sites have so much potential if properly preserved. Staunton Street is not long and if high-rises are built, its character will be destroyed.

There are already two high-rises near the Mid-Levels escalator that should never have been built.

The Urban Renewal Authority's (URA) proposal to revamp SoHo will only serve the interests of Hong Kong's private developers. It is time to discuss the role of the authority and ask what it is doing for society as a whole.

If it has objectives, clearly they are the wrong ones and are no different from the objectives of the organisation it replaced, the land development corporation.

It may have changed its name, but its purpose is no different - to clear old sites in the city for the benefit of private developers.

John Yuan, Beijing

God endures

With the fall of the great banks, it is important to stress that money is of secondary importance to the Word of God, which is the foundation of all reality.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of building the foundation of one's house upon sand or upon rock.

Those who build on sand do so only on visible and tangible things - on success, career and money.

These seem like the true reality, but one day they will pass away.

We see this happening now with the fall of the great banks. Money disappears, it becomes nothing and is of secondary importance.

As Pope Benedict recently said: 'All human things, all things we can invent and create are finite. So too all human religious experiences are finite.

'They show only one aspect of reality because our limited being understands only some parts . . . Only God is infinite.'

Paul Kokoski, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Pay the poor

The Pope has condemned the craving for success and money ('Pope attacks spiritually bankrupt modern culture', October 7).

Considering the enormous investment portfolio held by his Catholic Church, this comes as a shock. Why doesn't the Vatican follow the advice of Jesus and give all its wealth to the poor?

Rob Leung, Wan Chai